What is genetic manipulation?
Also called genetic engineering, this is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells.

What are the genetics around a three-person embryo?A natural embryo is formed after a sperm from the father and an egg from the mother fuse together. A three-person embryo can be created in a laboratory by using mitochondria from a second donor egg, which belongs to a healthy woman. The child will have genetic material from the two original parents but will have inherited the mitochondria from the donor egg.

How can this method change lives?
This method was created for mothers with mitochondrial disease. The child will not inherit the defective mitochondrial DNA from the mother and will avoid mitochondrial disease, which will lead to a much better quality of life.

Why are there concerns about genetic manipulation?
Although this procedure is not thought to increase the risk of other medical problems in the child, the technique has not been around for long enough for us to fully understand what the implications may be on future generations.

What is the technique that involves manipulation of a gamete?
Removing and replacing a particular sequence pre or at conception in gamete (egg or sperm making cells) and therefore potentially passed onto future generations.

What are the ethical concerns?
There are concerns about whether genetic manipulation will affect either the genetic sequence or the switching on and off of genes in subsequent generations through a process called imprinting.

What is the technique involving manipulation of a non-gamete?
Removing and replacing a particular sequence after conception or post birth in non-gamete (any diploid cell in the body) and therefore these changes are not passed onto future generations. This technique could be useful for metabolic conditions or blood-borne malignancies.

Are these processes currently possible?
The three-person embryo technique was successfully used for the first time in the UK recently. In September 2016 the first baby was born. The second two techniques are now possible using a new mechanism called gene editing.

What is gene editing?
Gene editing is type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted or replaced in the genome of a living organism using engineered nucleases, or “molecular scissors.”

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